Postdoctoral Associate - Animal Science

Zymtronix Catalytic Systems Inc; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dillon Lab seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate in Animal Science to advance spatially explicit environmental assessments of livestock production and life cycle analysis for policy and management questions. The role emphasizes collaboration, data synthesis, and publishing research findings in peer-reviewed venues.

Applicants should have a PhD in Animal Science or related field and strong skills in quantitative modeling (R/Python) with experience in environmental impacts of

Qualifications

• PhD in Animal Science or related field.
• Proficiency with quantitative systems modeling and LCA.
• Experience with livestock production environmental impacts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct spatially explicit environmental impact assessments of livestock production.
• Contribute to life cycle assessments of animal-source foods in NYState and beyond.
• Support evaluation of policy and market scenarios on environmental outcomes.
• Assist with development of mechanistic growth and nutrition models for grazing systems.
• Prepare manuscripts, technical reports, and presentations.

Skills

R programming

Python programming

Quantitative modeling

Life cycle assessment

Education

PhD in Animal Science

Tools

R

Python

LCA software

Job description

Postdoctoral Associate - Animal Science

The Dillon Lab explores the role of animal-source foods in sustainable food systems. We work to elucidate how system structure mediates sustainability outcomes from management change or policy implementation. Our applied work consists of modeling and field-based collaborations with transdisciplinary teams to quantify synergies and tradeoffs between environmental impacts, ecosystem services, and the social and economic dimensions of food systems.

We are seeking a highly motivated and collaborative Postdoctoral Associate with expertise in livestock systems, quantitative modeling, and environmental impacts. This position will support ongoing modeling efforts to evaluate the impact of public food purchasing policy and changes in farm management on the environmental impact of livestock systems. The successful candidate will be an integral part of a multidisciplinary team. They will contribute to a spatialized, dynamic life cycle assessment of ruminant production systems in the Northeast U.S. using integrated assessment models. The candidate will also contribute to the completion of a beef life cycle assessment for the City Food Policy Project and improving animal growth and performance predictions for grazing livestock by mechanistic nutrition models.

Responsibilities

• Conduct spatially explicit environmental impact assessments of livestock production at regional, national, and international scales.
• Contribute to life cycle assessments of animal-source foods produced in New York State and the broader Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.
• Support evaluation of social, environmental, and economic tradeoffs associated with livestock production under varying policy and market scenarios.
• Support comparative evaluation of livestock nutrition and performance models for grazing beef and dairy systems.
• Integrate biophysical and environmental models into broader food systems modeling frameworks.
• Contribute to peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical reports, and presentations.

Anticipated Division of Time

• Research – 90%

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Animal Science, Environmental Science, Agronomy, Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, or other relevant field.
• Demonstrated proficiency with quantitative systems modeling (e.g., mechanistic, process-based, dynamic, and/or life cycle approaches).
• Expertise in management of livestock production systems and the associated environmental impacts (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions and impacts to air and water quality).
• Interest in spatially explicit environmental impact assessments at regional and local scales.
• Proficiency in R, Python, or other relevant programming languages.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Must have and maintain a valid and unrestricted NYS Driver’s License and be cleared to drive for university business with the ability to register with Agile/Fleet Commander.

Preferred Qualifications

• Competence with life cycle assessment methods and software, including uncertainty methods, spatialized approaches, and integration with dynamic modeling frameworks.
• Experience applying or developing mechanistic animal models, and/or whole farm models with explicit modeling of soil processes and plant growth.
• Familiarity with system dynamics and agent-based modeling approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical findings to both scientific and applied audiences.
• Proven success mentoring undergraduate or graduate students.
• Record of collaboration in multidisciplinary research teams, especially using participatory modeling approaches.
• Prior postdoctoral research experience.
• Willingness to support administrative functions associated with project management including coordination, reporting, and data management.

Supervision Exercised

The successful applicant may provide oversight/mentor undergraduate and graduate students in the lab.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references via the website: Academic Jobs Online at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32217